Principals of Success

In this episode with Melinda Stone, you will learn:
Melinda's unique journey to leadership, how Melinda and her leadership team relied on their strengths to better lead their campus, and how she individualized professional development to meet teachers where they are in their growth and career.

Melinda Stone is the Principal of James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas and a District Principal of the Year. She is also a professor, a member of a rock band, and a passionate advocate for female leadership in education.

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After unexpectedly becoming a fourth grade teacher with no background in education, Terri Fuller embarks on a journey of self-discovery and resilience as she navigates the challenges of becoming a principal and coping with the loss of her mother.

You will learn:
1. How Terri went from a marketing degree to an unexpected career in education.
2. How she used her faith to power through a challenging period of loss and grief while transitioning into a principalship.
3. How she has used her experiences to become an advocate for self-care in the workplace.

Terri Fuller is an elementary principal from Washington, DC who has a degree in marketing. She has over seven years of experience in the principalship, and is passionate about servant leadership and the importance of taking care of one's mental and physical health.

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Beth Houf, a former teacher and current principal, finds her true passion for leadership through forging powerful connections, inspiring a culture of support, and leading like a pirate to make her school a place kids and staff run to get in, not out.

Beth Houf is the proud principal of Fulton Middle School in central Missouri. She is the Co-Author of Lead Like a PIRATE: Make School Amazing for Your Students and Staff. Beth also serves as a facilitator for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Leadership Academy, providing monthly training to state educational leaders. She is also active in her local, state and national principal associations. Beth has served as an adjunct professor at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Missouri.

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Here's what I cover with Evelyn Edney in this episode:

1. How Evelyn Edney went from being an English teacher to a school leader. 
2. The importance of relationships in school leadership and how to create meaningful connections.
3. Strategies for advocating for education and how to make the most of conversations with legislators.

Dr. Evelyn Edney is the principal of the Early College High School in Dover, Delaware and a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals Board of Directors. 

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When Brandi Leggett, a passionate principal, takes on the challenge to transform her Title One school in Leytha, Kansas, she sets out to prove that all students can achieve at high levels.  In this episode you will hear: 

1. How Principal Leggett builds community and encourages high achievement among her students in a high poverty school.
2. How she engages families with a variety of events, such as STEM night, culture night, and family game night.
3. How she creates exposure for her students by taking them on college campus tours and introducing them to post-high school opportunities.

Brandi Leggett is an elementary principal and she is intentionally changing the stereotypical narrative for high poverty schools. 

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In this episode with Dr. Aleli Vazquez, you will learn:
1. Investing in Teacher Empowerment: How does Dr. Vazquez make sure her teachers build strong relationships with students and feel empowered in their roles?
2. Creative Outreach Strategies: How does she use creative activities and themes to engage her staff and build a strong school community?
3. Magic Makers: What is Dr. Vazquez's approach to including support staff in school activities, and what is her philosophy on recognizing everyone as "magic makers"?

Dr. Aleli Vazquez is an 18-year education veteran and principal of the Orange County Public School District in Florida. She takes a new approach to traditional leadership, investing in her teachers and creating a joyful and supportive environment for her staff and students.

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This is the second part of our conversation with Dr. Yolanda Rios, a middle school principal in Houston, Texas.  In this episode, we continue our conversation about her strategies to stay organized and focus.  You will hear about:

Strategies  Dr. Yolanda Rios uses to manage her time and organize her responsibilities as a school leader
How Dr. Rios uses new tools to communicate with her staff
What tips Dr. Rios has for creating a positive work-life balance and staying productive.

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Yolanda Rios, a Middle School Principal in Houston, Texas, strives to stay organized and focused amidst the chaos of school leadership, but discovers her own unique strategies to level up her school and her leadership when she learns that organization is make or break.
You will learn how to utilize organizational strategies to revolutionize your school leadership and achieve success.

Mentioned in this epsiode
Trello
Google Spaces (how to)
Taskboard

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For today’s episode, I am honored to be joined by Liz Garden.  Liz is an elementary principal on the East Coast and today we are having a conversation about the human side of education.   Liz has been a principal for over 15 years and we explored the challenge of being a principal after returning from the pandemic and the ways she communicates to staff, and herself, that taking care of yourself is a priority.  This is a perfect conversation to end this year with as we reflect on what we do every day and how we remember kindness and grace for those we serve and ourselves.  

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In a world where books are often mirrors of our own experiences, Dr. Alice Lee brings literacy to her school with the intention of creating compassion, connection, and community through books that window into other cultures and journeys.

Dr. Alice Lee is a former elementary school principal in El Segundo School District in California and now serves as a Director of Secondary Education in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District.

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